Staple-driving machine



J. MUTH.

STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1921.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

INVENTOR TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MUTE, 0F NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. H. HOTGHKISS COMPANY, OF NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

I STAPLE-DRIVING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

Application filed March 24,1921. Serial No. 455,124.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Morn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwalk, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Staple-Driving Machines, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stapling machines, and more panticularly to that type known as strip staple machines, wherein each staple, at the time it is driven, is severed from a strip of integrally connected stalples which is fed forwardly at each operation of the machine to bring the staples successively into a position tobe severed and driven.

The invention has for its general object the provision of a novel stapling machine of this general type which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is durable and not likely to get out of order and which is positive and reliable in its operation.

A more particular object of the invention is the provision of improved means for holding each staple as it is severed from the strip, thus overcoming any tendency on the part of the cutting and driving mechanism to bend the staples and wedge the same in the throat of the machine and insuring the clean severing and straight driving of each staiple.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the character last referred to which will also perform the function of the usual detent pawl for holding the stapling strip against retrograde movement and which will further assist in aiding said strip.

With t e foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the novel stapling mechanism which I will now describe, re erence being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which 2 Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the complete machine, showing the interior parts in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the staple strip carrying bar and the combined staple strip guiding and holding member.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, and Fig. 1 a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the forward end of said last named member.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the front end of the staple 11. ivotally mounted on said base is the head of the machine which comprises 8 casing 12 open at the bottom and having the lower edges of its side walls secured, as by pins 16, to the staple strip carrying bar 15 upon which the staple strip slides, said her being pivoted at 13 between upstanding ears 49. at the rear end of the base 10. The upper portion of the bar 15 is spaced from the side walls .of the casing 12 by plates 17 interposed between said bar and walls in order to provide the necessary clearance for the free passage of the staple strip 50. At its forward end the casing 12 is formed with a vertically disposed, substantially cylindrical guide 18 for a vertically reciprocating plunger 19 having a knob or hand piece 20 at its upper end. A coil spring 21 is interposed between the hand piece 20 and the top of the guide 18, said spring normally holding the plunger in raised position. The fiat forward end of the bar 15 is disposed in substantial alinement, or in substantially the same vertical plane with the flat rear face of the plunger 19, only sufficient clearance being provided between said bar and plunger to permit the latter to pass the former and cooperate therewith to shear off the first staple of the strip when the plungeris depressed. The staple stri 50 is sup orted and slides on the top of t e bar 15 wlth its foremost staple normally projectingbeyond the end of the bar in a position to be severed from the strip by the plunger 19 in its downward movement and driven through the throat 22 of the machine upon the anvil 48 where it is clenched by the recess 11.

23 denotes a cam plate pivoted at 25 within the casing 12 at .therear of the plunger 19. 26 denotes a feed pawl preferably of substantially U-shaped cross sectionhaving an opening in its top to receive an car 24 on the cam plate 23 to which said pawl is pivoted, as at 27. At their forward ends the sides of the pawl 26 are beveled to form forwardly inclined teeth 28 adapted to engage the in-' dividual staples of the strip 50 at the opposite sides of the continuous portion of the latter, said pawl being cut away between said teeth, as shown at 29, to bridge or v arcuate slot 34 in said plate.

straddle said continuous portion and permit the teeth 28 to engage the individual staples at opposite sides thereof. 30 denotes a spring mounted on a stud 31 and engaging the rear end of the pawl 26, thereby normally holding the forward end of the latter in engagement with the staple strip The cam plate 23 is oscillated on its pivot 25 at each reciprocation ofthe plunger 19 by a lug 32 on said plunger which engages lower and upper cam surfaces 45 and i6 formed on said plate, said cam surfaces being so designed that at each oscillation of the cam plate the feed pawl 26 will be moved a distance corresponding with the width of one staple on the strip. When the plunger 19 is depressed, engagement of the lug 32 with the lower cam surface 45 causes the feed pawl to be retracted or moved backwardly upon the strip, and when said plunger is raised engagement of said lug with the, upper cam surface 46 causes said pawl to be moved forwardly to advance the strip. In order to insure against accidental overthrow of the feed pawl in either direction, means are provided for limiting the movement of the cam plate 23, said means comprising a pin 33 carried by the casing and extending through a short 35 denotes a plunger guided in a threaded thimble 36 which is seated in a threaded opening in the casin 12, said plunger being forced inward y by a spring 37 interposed between a shoulder formed on said plunger and the bottom of said thimble. The end of the plunger 35 is slotted to receive the rear edge of the cam plate 23 and acts to keep said cam plate and the feed pawl26 carried thereby normally in their forward position as well as to prevent lateral movement of said cam plate.

The plates 17 are made of sufficient thickness to provide a clearance between the bar 15 and the walls of the-casing in excess of that required for the staple strip 50, and in this additional space is arranged a channel member 38 which overlies and straddles the bar 15 and staple strip, the side flanges of said member being formed at their rear ends with ears 39.pivoted at 40 to the bar 15 at the outside of the plates 17 which are reduced in thickness at their rear ends to receive said ears. The channel member 38 constitutes an auxiliary guide for the staple strip, which lies between it and the bar 15, and facilitates the free movement of said strip by holding the latter out of contact with the walls of the casing, which is usually a casting and relatively rough.

The top or web of the channel member 38 is formed with a longitudinal rib or corrugation 41 and is provided at its forward end with longitudinal slots 42 at opposite sides I of said rib or corrugation to leave a tongue 43 which is upwardly convex to straddle the continuous portion of the staple strip 50 and is formed at its outer end with teeth. 1 1 adapted to engage the'individual staples in a manner similar to the teeth 28 of the feed pawl 26, said tongue constitutin a detent to hold the strip against retrograce movement when the feed pawl 26 is retracted. The feed pawl 26 overlies and encloses the de tent tongue 43, and the teeth 28 thereof engage the strip through the slots 12, being heldin alinement therewith by engagement of the slotted end of the plunger 35 with the cam plate 23. At their forward ends the side flanges of the member 38 are longitudinally slotted, as at 51, to provide tongues 52 which extend slightly beyond the forward end of the bar 15 and are formed with inwardly curved ends 53. When the feed pawl 26 moves forwardly to advance the staple strip, as above explained, the foremost staple thereon is moved beyond the end of the bar 15 into a position to be engaged and severed by the plunger 19, the legs of said staple forcing outwardly and passing the curved ends 53 of the tongues 52. Thereafter said tongues spring'inwardly and engage the rear edges of said legs,thereby preventin g suring its being cleanly sheared off and accurately driven by l l the slots 42 and 51, angular guide portions 53 of the member 38 at the junction of the web and side flanges thereof extend approximately to the end of the bar 15 and serve to guide the staple strip during the latter part of its travel. v i

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: I

1. in a strip staple machine, tion with a staple strip carryin bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member overlying said bar and staple strip'and having means to engage the foremost staple on said strip andhold said staple against turning during the severing operation, and means to retain said member in staple holding position.

' 2. In a strip staple machine, the combina-. tion with "a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member overlying the bar and staple strip and pivoted to said bar on a pivot extending transversely of the the combinabar and having a portion'adapted to engage the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning movement during said foremost staple from being bent around the end of said bar 15, and m the plunger 19. Between individual staples, of a staple strip guiding member pivoted to said bar and having means for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding said staple against turning during the severing operation.

4. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple stripcarrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the indi vidual staples, of a channel member over lying said bar and staple strip, said bar having means for holding said strip against retrograde movement when said feeding means is retracted and means to engage the legs of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning during the severing operation.

5. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member pivoted to said bar and overlying the strip'and provided with means for engaging said strip and holding the same against retrograde movement when said feeding means is retracted.

6. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the inidividual staples, of a staple strip guiding member pivoted to said bar and having means for engaging said strip and holding the same against retrograde movement when said feeding means is retracted.

7. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member overlying said bar and a staple strip thereon and having side flanges pivoted to said bar, said member having means to engage the legs of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning during the severing operation. Y

8. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member overlying said bar and a staple strip thereon and having side flanges pivoted to said bar, said member having means for engaging said strip and holding the same against retrograde movement when said feeding means is retracted.

9. In a strip staple machine, the combina tion with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar. and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member pivoted to said bar and having means for holding said strip against retrograde movement when said feeding means are retracted, said memher also having means to engage the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning during the severing operation.

10. In a strip staple machine, the combinationwith a staple strip carrying bar,.means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a staple strip guiding member pivoted to said bar and having means for holding said strip against retrograde movement when said feeding means are retracted, said member also having means to engage the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning during the severing operation.

11. In a strip staple machine,the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member overlying said bar and a staple strip thereon and having side flanges pivoted to said bar said member having means for holding said strip against retrograde movement and means for holding the foremost staple on said strip against turning during the severing operation.

12. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member overlying said'bar and having a top web portion provided with means for engaging said strip and holding the same against ret rograde movement, said member also having side flanges pivoted to said bar and provided with means for engaging the legs of the foremost staple on said strip and holding said staple against turning during the severing operation.

13. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member overlying said bar and having a top webportion provided with means for engaging said strip and holding the same against retrograde movement, said member also having side flanges pivoted to said bar and provided with means for holding the foremost staple on said strip against turning during the severing operation, the angular portions of said bar at the junction of said web and flanges constituting guiding means for said staple strip.

14. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member pivoted to the bar and overlying said bar and the stri carried thereby and having a detent for hol ing said strip against retrograde movement, said member having a slot, and a feed pawl for advancing said strip, said feed pawl overlying said detent and engaging said strip through said slot.

15. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for "feeding a staple strip carried by said bar and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member pivoted to said bar, said member being slotted to provide a detent tongue adapted to engage said strip and hold the same against retrograde movement.

16. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member pivoted to said bar, said member being slotted to provide a tongue adapted to engage a leg of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning during the severing operation.

17. In a strip staple machine, the combina tion with a staple strip carrying bar and a lunger for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member overlying said bar and the strip carried thereby and having side flanges pivoted thereto, said member having a top-Web provided with slots to form a detent tongue for holding said strip against retrograde movement, said side flanges being slotted to provide tongues adapted to engage the legs of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning during the severing opera tion, and a feed pawl for advancing said strip, said feed pawl overlying said detent tongue and having teeth engaging said strip through said slots.

18. In a strip staple machine including a I casing, the combination with means for sup-' porting a staple strip and a plunger for severing and driving the individual staples, of means for feeding said strip, comprising an oscillating plate operated by said plunger, a feed pawl carried by said plate, and a spring pressed plunger mounted to slide in the casing and having a slotted end in which the ed e of said plate is received for normally holding said pawl in advanced position. 1

19. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar and a plunger for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member overlying said bar and the strip carried thereby and having a detent for holding said strip against retrograde movement, said member having a slot, an oscillating plate operated by said plunger, a feed pawl carried by said plate, said pawl overlying said detent and engaging said strip through said slot, and a spring pressed plunger having a slotted end in which the edge of said plate is received. 20. ln a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member pivoted to said bar and having means for holding said strip against retrograde movement when said feeding means are retracted.

21. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a staple strip carrying bar, means for feeding a staple strip carried by said bar. and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member pivoted to said barand having means for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding said staple against turning during the severing operation.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

' JOHN MUTH. 

